The Durango High School volleyball team was young last year. With no seniors to lead the team, however, underclassmen were able to gain a lot of experience on the court, and they’re back to lead the Demons this season.
“I feel like we’ve become more confident, more consistent and more mature,” said DHS head coach Kelley Rifilato. “Most of the girls have played together for multiple years now.”
The Demons went 10-15 overall last year, and 4-4 in the 5A/4A Southwestern League but finished strong and, as the No. 25 seed, were able to upset No. 9 The Classical Academy in the regional championships.
The team continued to work in the offseason, practicing in the school’s auxiliary gym twice a week while work is done on the main gym. The team also woke up early in the morning once a week so it could play on the sand volleyball courts at Santa Rita Park without anyone bothering them.
Practicing on the sand has several benefits, coach Rifilato said. Since the court is smaller, the players need to be able to control the ball and make good decisions.
“That really helped our ball control,” Rifilato said. Sand is also easy on the body, she said, but to jump and move around in it, the players have to be explosive.
The coach said a couple of the team’s key players this season will be Mason Rowland and Leah Wolf.
Rowland will set and hit for the Demons and is returning after a junior year in which she received all-state honors in volleyball (honorable mention), basketball (second team) and soccer (first team).
Wolf was an important player for DHS last year on the court too, serving a team-high 49 aces, and continued making strides in the offseason.
“She has become next level,” Rifilato said. “She played club all winter, and it definitely showed.”
Brooklyn Messier, Eva Stewart, Sarah Somrak, Naomi Rowe, Josie Balestri, Emma Burns and Aava Dreger are also back after playing varsity last season for DHS. The team has 38 girls out, and the coach said she tried to max out the its three rosters.
“We’re very athletic,” Rifilato said. “The kids are multidimensional and are able to play multiple positions, which makes it difficult for me to decide.”
She said the team has depth at every position this year, and lots of different weapons.
“We have 10 different weapons on varsity, and they all bring something different to the table,” Rifilato said.
The Demons will play their first game on Tuesday at Farmington, visit Bayfield the following Tuesday and then compete in an early-season tournament at Glenwood Springs. DHS is scheduled to face both Glenwood and Mullen in that tournament.
“I think that will be a good test early on,” Rifilato said.
DHS will then begin SWL league play, and Fruita Monument and Montrose are two of the teams to beat again this year.
The Demons will conclude their regular season in a new tournament for them at Dakota Ridge High School, giving them one last tuneup before the postseason.
“We excited to go to the Front Range; I think it will be fun to play some different competition,” Rifilato said.
She also said she’s excited for her players to compete this year after their hard work in the offseason.
“The kids are working hard,” Rifilato said. “Last year was tough – they were young and inexperienced, but it’s nice to see what a difference a year can make.”
